2023-2024 Director's Annual Report

Dear DCDSB Community,

It is with great pride and gratitude that I present the 2023-2024 Director’s Annual Report: Speaking With the Heart. This past year has been an incredible journey of growth, achievement, and commitment to our renewed mission to be an inclusive Catholic learning community that inspires every student to achieve their full potential through faith and education.

We were inspired once again by the words of Pope Francis for our 2023-2024 Spiritual Theme, Speaking with the Heart. Noted during his message for the 57th World Day of Social Communications, Pope Francis said, “it is the heart that spurred us to go, to see and to listen, and it is the heart that moves us towards an open and welcoming way of communicating.” Throughout the year, we reflected on the spiritual theme as a Catholic learning community, and what it means to communicate “according to God's style”, welcoming encounters with others as “heart speaks to heart.”

By working together, our students, families, staff, parish and community partners collaborate to create learning environments where students can grow academically, spiritually and personally. The stories and achievements highlighted in this report are a result of the collaborative efforts and shared vision that drive our Durham Catholic learning community forward. In this report, you will see that we have celebrated accomplishments related to student achievement, student success, innovative programming, community partnerships and projects, and faith-based initiatives.

I extend my sincere appreciation to students, staff, families, Board of Trustees, and parish and community partners, for your ongoing engagement and dedication to supporting Catholic education in Durham Region. Together, we will continue to build upon our successes to support all students as we focus on supporting faith & well-being, advancing human rights, equity and Indigenous Education, and improving student learning.

May God bless all in our Durham Catholic learning community as we strive to listen, learn and live in faith together.

Yours in hope and faith,

Gerard Winn
Director of Education